on me.

Claud. If he be, he knows how to turn his girdle. leamed constable is too cunning to be understood. Bene. Shall I speak a word in your ear?

What's your offence ? Claud. God bless me from a challenge?

Bora. Sweet prince, let me go no further to mine Bene. You are a villain ;-) jest not:-1 will answer; do you hear me, and let this count kill me. make it good how you dare, with what you dare, I have deceived even your very eyes; what your and when you dare :-Do me right, or I will pro- wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools test your cowardice. You have killed a sweet lady, have brought to light; who, in the night, overand her death shall fall heavy on you: Let me hear heard me consessing to this man, how don John from you.

your brother incenseda me to slander the lady Claud. Well, I will meet you, so I may have hero: how you were brought into the orchard, and good cheer.

saw me court Margaret in Hero's garments; how D. Pedro. What,a feast? a feast?

you disgraced her, when you should marry her: Claud. I'faith, I thank him; he hath bid me to iny villany they have upon record; which I had a call's head and a capon; the which if I do not rather seal with my death, than repeat over to my carve most curiously, say, my knife's naught. shame: the lady is dead upon mine and my master's Shall I not find a woodcock too?

false accusation; and, briefly, I desire nothing but Bene. Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily. the reward of a villain.

D. Pedro. I'll tell thee how Beatrice praised thy D. Pe tro. Runs not this speech like iron through wit the other day: I said thou hadst a fine wit: your blood ? True, says she, a fine little one: No, said I, a great Clant. I have drunk poison whiles he utter'd it. wit ; Right, says she, a great gruss one : Nuy, said I, D. Pedro. But did my brother set thee on to this? a good wit; Just, said she, it hurts nobody: Nay Bora. Yea, and paid me richly for the practice of it. said I, the gentleman is wise; Certain, said she, a D. Pedro. He is compos'd and frame d of treawise gentleman: Nay said I, he hath the tongues ;

chery :That I believe, said she for he swore a thing to me and fed he is upon this villany.. on Monday night, which he forswore on Tuesday Claud. Sweet Hero! now thy image doth appear morning; there's a double tongue; there's two in the rare semblance that I loved it first. tongues. Thus did she, an hour together, trans- Dogb. Come, bring away the plaintiffs; by this shape thy particular virtues; yet, at last, she con- time our sexton hath reformed signior Leonato of cluded with a sigh, thou wast the properest man the matter. And, masters, do not forget to specify, in Italy:

when time and place shall serve, that I am an ass. Claud. For the which she wept heartily, and Verg. Here, here comes master signior Leonato, said she cared not.

and the sexton too. D. Pedro. Yea, that she did; but yet for all that, Re-enter Leosato and Antonio, with the Sexton. an if she did not hate him deadly, she would love him dearly: the old man's daughter told us all. Leon. Which is the villain? Let me see his eyes

Claud. All, all; and moreover, God saw him that when I note another man like him, when he was hid in the garden.

I may avoid him: Which of these is he? D. Pedro. But when shall we set the savage Bura. If you would know your wronger, look bull's horns on the sensible Benedick's head?

Claud. Yea, and text underneath, Here dwells Leon. Art thou the slave, that with thy breath Benedick the married man?

hast kill'd Bene. Fare you well, boy; you know my mind; Mine innocent child? I will leave you now to your gossip-like humor: Bora.

Yea, even I alone. you break jests as braggarts do their blades, waich, Leon. No, not so, villain; thou bely'st thyself; God be thanked, hurt not.--My lord, for your many Here stand a pair of honorable men, courtesies, I thank you: I must discontinue your A third is fled, that had a hand in it: company: your brother, the bastard, is fled from I thank you, princes, for my daughter's death; Messina: you have, among you, killed a sweet and Record it with your high and worthy deeds; innocent lady: For my lord lack-beard, there, he 'Twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it. and I shall meet; and till then, peace be with him. Claud. I know not how to pray your patience,

(Exit BENEDICK. Yet I must speak: Choose your revenge yourself; D. Pedro. He is in earnest.

Impose me to what penance your invention Claud. In most profound earnest; and, I'll war-Can lay upon my sin: yet sinn'd I not, rant you, for the love of Beatrice.

But in mistaking. D. Pedro. And hath challenged thee!

D. Pedro.

By my soul, nor I;
Cland. Most sincerely.

And yet, to satisfy this good old man,
D. Pedro. What a pretty thing man is, when he I would bend under any heavy weight
goes in his doublet and hose, and leaves off his wit! | That he'll enjoin me to.
Enter DOG BERRY, Verges, and the Watch, wilh That were impossible but, I pray you both,

Leon. I cannot bid you bid my daughter live,
CONRADE and Boraca10.

Possess the people in Messina here Claud. He is then a giant to an ape: but then How innocent she died: and, if your love is an ape a doctor to such a man.

Cau labor aught in sad invention, D. Pedro. But, soft you, let be; pluck up, my Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb, heart, and be sud! Did he not say, my brother was And sing it to her bones; sing it to-night:tied ?

To-morrow morning come you to my house; Dogb. Come, you, sir; if justice cannot tame you, And since you could not be my son-in-law, she shall ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance: Be yet my nephew: my brother hath a daughter, nay, an you be a cursing hypocrite once, you inust Almost the copy of my child that's dead, be looked to.

And she alone is heir to both ot us; D. Pedro. How now, two of my brother's men Give her the right you should have given her cousin, bound? Borachio, one!

And so dies my revenge. Claut. Hearken after their offence, my lord ! Claut.

0, noble sir, D. Pedro. Officers, what offence have these men Your over-kindness doth wring tears from ine! done?

I do embrace your ofler; and dispose Dogb. Marry, sir, they have committed false re- For benceforth of poor Claudio. port; moreover, they have spoken untruths; se- Leon. To-morrow then I will expect your coming condarily, they are slanders; sixth, and lastly they To-night I take my leave.-This naughty man have belied a lady; thirdly, they have veritied un- Shall face to face be brought to Margaret, just things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves. Who, I believe, was pack'd• in all this wrong,

D. Pedró. First, I ask thee what they have done; Hird to it by your brother. thirdly, I ask thee what's their offence; sixth and Bora.

No, by my soul, she was not; lastly, why they are committed; and, to conclude, Nor knew not what she did, when she spoke to me; what you lay to their charge?

But always hath been just and virtuous, Claull. Rightly reasoned, and in his own division; In any thing that I do know by her. and, by my troth, there's one meaning well suited. Dugb. Moreover, sir,(which, indeed, is not under

D. Pedro. Whom have you offended, masters; white and black,) this plaintiff here, the otlender, that you are thus bound to your answer! this did call me ass: I beseech you, let it be remembered . Serious.

ܪ

morrow.

SCENE II.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

117 in his punishment: And also the watch heard them Beat. Foul words are but foul breath, and foul talk of one Deformned: they say, he wears a key in breath is noisome; therefore I will depart unkissed. his ear, and a lock hangin; by it; and borrows mo- Bene. Thou hast frighted the word out of his ney in God's name; the which' he hath used so right sense, so forcible is thy wit: But I must tell long, and never paid, that now men grow hard- thee plainly, Claudio undergoes my challenge; hearted, and will lend nothing for God's sake: and either I must shortly hear from him, or I will Pray you, examine him upon that point.

subscribe him a coward. And, I pray thee now, Leon. I thank thee for thy care and honest pains. tell me, for which of my bad parts didst thou first

Dugh. Your worship speaks like a most thank- fall in love with me? ful and reverend youth; and I praise God for you. Beat. For them all together; which maintained so L on. There's for thy pains.

politic a state of evil, that they will not adinit any Dogb. God save the foundation !

good part to intermingle with them. But for which Leon. Go, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and of my good parts did you first sutter love for me? I thank thee.

Bene. Sutier love; a good epithet! I do suffer
Dogb. I leave an arrant krave with your worship; love, indeed, for I love thee against my will.
which, I besuech your worship, to correct yourself, Beat. In spite of your heart, I think; alas! poor
for the example of others. God keep your wor- heart! If you spite it for my sake, I will spite it for
ship; I wish your worship well; God restore you yours; for I will never love that which my friend
to health: I humbly give you leave to depart; and hates.
ita merry meeting may be wished, God prohibit Bene. Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.
it.Comé, neighbor.

Beat. It appears not in this confession: there's
(Er. DOG BERY, VERGES, and Watch: not one wise man among twenty that will praiso
Leon. Until to-morrow morning, lords, farewell. himself.
Ant. Farewell, my lords; we look for you to- Bene. An old, an old instance, Beatrice, that

lived in the time of good neighbors: if a man do D. Pedro. We will not fail.

not erect in this age his own tomb ere he dies, he Claud. To-night I'll mourn with Hero. shall live no longer in monument than the bell rings,

(Exeunt Don PEDRO and CLAUDIO and the widow weeps.
Leon. Bring you these fellows on; we'll talk Beat. And how long is that, think you ?
with Margaret,

Bene. Question ?--Why, an hour in clamor,
How her acquaintance grew with this lewd. fellow, and a quarter in rheum: Therefore it is most expe-

[E.ceunt. dient for the wise, (if don Worm his consciense tind SCENE II.-Leonato's Garden.

no impediment to the contrary,) to be the trumpet

of his own virtues, as I am to myself: So much for Enter BESEDICK and MARGARET, meeting.

praising myself, (who, I myself'will bear witness is
Bene. Pray thee, sweet mistress Margaret, de- praise-worthy,) and now tell me, How doth your
serve well at my hands, by helping me to the speech cousin ?
of Beatrice.

Beat. Very ill.
Murg. Will you then write me a sonnet in praise Bene. And how do you?
of my beauty ?

Beat. Very ill too.
Bene. In so high a style, Margaret, that no man Bene. Serve God, love me, and mend: there
living shall come over it; for in most comely truth, will I leave you too, for here comes one in haste.
throu deserves it.

Enter URSULA.
Marg. To have no man come over me? why,
shall I always keep below stairs?

Urs. Madam, you must come to your uncle; Bene. Thý wit is as quick as the greyhound's yonder's old coils at home: it is proved, my lady mouth, it catches.

Hero hath been falsely accused, the prince and Murg. And yours as blunt as the fencer's foils, Claudio mightily abused; and don John is the which hit, but hurt not.

author of all, who is tied and gone: will you come Bene. Á most manly wit, Margaret, it will not presently? hurt a woman; and so I pray thee, call Beatrice : Beut. Will you go hear this news, signior? I give thee the bucklers.

Bene. I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and Mirg. Give us the sword, we have bucklers of be buried in thy eyes, and, moreover, I will go

with thee to thy uncle's.

(Exeunt. Bene. If you use them, Margaret, you must put in the pikes with a vice; and they are dangerous Enter Don Pedro, CLAUDIO, and Attendants, with

SCENE III.-The Inside of a Church. weapons ibr maids.

music and tapers.
Marg. well, I will call Beatrice to you, who I
think, hath legs.

Exit MARGARET. Claud. Is this the monument of Leonato ?
Bene. And therefore will come.

Alten. It is, my lord.
The god of love,

(Singing.)

Claud. (Reads from a scroll.]
That sits above,

Dune to death by slanderous tongues,
And knows me, and knows nie,

Was the Hero that here lies :
How pitiful I deserve, -

Death in guerdon' of her wrongs,
I mean, in singing: but in loving,-Leander the

Gives her fame which nerer dies :
good swimmer, Troilus the first employer of pan- So the life,ihat died with shame,
dars, and a whole book full of these quondam car- Lives in death with glorious fame.
pret-inongers, whose names yet run smoothly in the
even road of a blank verse, why, they were never so

Hang thou there upon the tomb, (Affixing it.
truly turned over and over as my poor self, in love: Praising her when I am dumb.
Marry, I cannot show it in rhyme; I have tried; 1 Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn.
ean find out no rhyme to lady but baby, an innocent

SONG.
rhyme; for scorn, horn, a hard rhyme; for school,
frok, a babbling rhyme; very ominous endings: Pardon, goddess of the night,
No, I was not born under a rhyming planet, nor I Those thut slew thy virgin knight,
cannot woo in festivial terms.

For the which, with songs of woe,

Round about her tomb they go.
Enter BEATRICE.

Midnight, assist our moan;
Sweet Beatrice, wouldst thou come when I called Help us to sigh and groun,
thee?

Heavily, he avily :
Beat. Yea, signior, and depart when you bid me. Graves yawn, and yield your dead,
Bene. O, stay but till then?

Till death be ullered,
Beat. Then, is spoken; fare you well now:

Hertvily, heavily.
and yet, ere I go, let me go with that I came for, Claud. Now unto thy bones good night!
which is, with knowing what hath passed between

Yearly will I do this rite.
you and Claudio.

D. Pedro. Good morrow, masters; put your Bene. Only foul words; and thereupon I will

torches out: kiss thee.

The wolves have prey'd; and look, the gentle day + Wicked.

& Stir.

Reward.

our own.

Before the wheels of Phobus, round about

I am your husband, if you like of me.
Dapples the drowsy east with spots of grey : Herv. And when I lived I was your other wise:
Thanks to you all, and leave us; lare you woll.

(Un masking. Claud. Good morrow, masters; each his several | And when you loved, you were my other husband. way.

Claud. Another Hero?
D. Pedro. Come, let us hence, and put on other Hero.

Nothing certainer: weeds;

One Hero died defil'd; but I do live,
And then to Leonato's we will go.

And, surely as I live, I am a maid.
Claud. And, Hymen, now with luckier issue D. Petrii. The former Hero! Hero that is dead!
speeds,

Leon. She died, my lord, but whiles her slander Than this, for whom we render'd up this woe!

lived.

[Exeunt. Friar. All this amazement can I qualify; SCENE IV.- A Room in Leonato's House.

When, after that the holy rites are ended,

I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death:
Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, BENEDICK, BEATRICE, Mean time let wonder seem familiar,
URSULA, Friar, and HERO.

And to the chapel let us presently,
Friar. Did I not tell you she was innocent ?

Bene. Sofi and fair, friar.-- Which is Beatrice?
Leon. So are the prince and Claudio, who accus'd

Beat. I answer to that name; [Unmasking.) her,

What is your will ?.
Upon the error that you heard debated :

Bone. Do not you love me?
But Margaret was in some fault for this,

Beat.

No, no more than reason. Although against her will, as it appears

Bene. Why, then your uncle, and the prince, In the true course of all the question.

and Claudio,
Ant. Well, I am glad that all things sort so well.

Have been deceived; for they swore you did.
Bene. And so am I, being else by iaith entore'd

Beat. Do you not love me?

Bene.
To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.

No, no more than reason.
Leon. Well, daughter, and you, gentlewoman all, are much deceiv'd; for they did swear you did.

Beat. Why, then my cousin, Margaret,and Crsula,
Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves;
And, when I send for you, come hither mask'd :

Bene. They swore that you were almost sick

for me.
The prince and Claudio promised by this hour
To visit me:- You know your ollice, brother;

Beat. They swore that you were well-nigh dead

for me.
You must be father to your brother's daughter,
And give her to young Claudio. [Exeunt Lalies.

Bene. 'Tis no such matter:- Then you do not
Ant. Which I will do with confirin d countenance.

love me? Bene. Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think.

Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompense. Friar. To do what, signior ?

Leon. Come, cousin, I am sure you love the Bene. To bind me, or undo me, one of them.

gentleman, Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior,

Claud. And I'll be sworn upon't, that he loves

her;
Your niece regards me with an eye of favor.
Leon. That eye my daughter lent her: 'Tis most For here's a paper, written in his hand,

A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,
true.
Bene. And I do with an eye of love requite her. Fashion'd to Beatrice.
Leon. The sight whereof, I think, you had from Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,

Hero.

And here's another,
me,
From Claudin' and the prince; But what's your will? | Containing her atlection unto Benedick.
Bene. Your answer, sir, is enigmatical:

Bene. A miracle! here's our own hands against
But, for my will, my will is, your good will

our hearts !- Come, I will have thee; but, by this May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin'd

light, I take thee for pity. In the estate of honorable marriage;

Beat. I would not deny you; but, by this good In which, good friar, I shall desire your help.

day, I yield upon great persuasion; and, partly, to Leon. My heart is with your liking.

save your life; for I was told you were in a conFriar.

And my help. sumption.
Here comes the prince, and Claudio.

Bene. Peace, I will stop your mouth

(Kissing her. Enter Don PEDRO, and CLAUDIO, with Attendants. D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick the married D. Pedro. Good morrow to this fair assembly.

man ? Leon. Good morrow, prince: good morrow, Clau- Bene. I'll tell thee what prince; a college of

wit-crackers cannot tlout me out of my humor: We here attend you; are you yet determind

Dost thou think, I care for a satire, or an epigram: To-day to marry with my brother's daughter ? No: If a man will be beaten with brains, he shall

Claud. I'll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope. wear nothing handsome about him: In brief, since Leon. Call her forth, brother, here's the friar I do propose to marry, I will think nothing to any ready.

[Exit A sroxio. purpose that the world can say against it; and D. Pedro. Good morrow, Benedick: Why, what's therefore never thout at me for what I have said the matter,

against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my That you have such a February face,

conclusion.-- For thy part, Claudio, I did think to So full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness?

have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be Claud. I think, he thinks upon the savage bull :- my kinsman, live unbruised, and love my cousin. Tush, fear not, man, we'll tip thy horns with gold, Claud. I had well hoped, thou wouldst have deAnd all Europa shall rejoice at thee;

nied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out As once Europa did at lusty Jove,

of thy single life, to make thee a double dealer; When he would play the noble beast in love. which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin

Bene. Bull Jove, sir, bad an amiable low; do not look exceeding narrowly to thee.
And some such strange bull leap'd your father's Bene. Come, come, we are friends .- let's have

a dance, ere we are married, that we might lighten And got a calf in that same noble feat,

our own hearts and our wives heels. Much like to you, for you have just his bleat. Loon. We'll have dancing afterwards.

Bene. First, on my word ; therefore, play, music, Re-enter Antonio, with the Ladies masked. - Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a Claud. For this I owe you: here come other wife: there is no staff more reverend than one tipo reckonings.

ped with horn.
Which is the lady I must seize upon?

Enter a Messenger.
Ant. This saine is she, and I do give you her. Mess. My lord, your brother John is ta’en in
Claud. Why, then she's mine: Sweet, let me see

fight,

And brought with armed men back to Messina. Leon. No, that you shall not, till you take her Bene. Think not on him till to-morrow; In hand,

devise thee brave punishments for him.--Strike up, Before this friar, and swear to marry her.

pipers.

[Dance.-Exeunt. Claud. Give me your hand before this holy friar;

& Because.

dio;

COW,

your face.

MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

THESEUS, Duke of Athens.

OBEROX, King of the Fairies.
EGEUS, Father to Hermia.

TITANIA, Queen of the fairies.
LISANDER,
DEMETRIUS,
in love with Hermia.

Puck, or ROBIN-GOODFELLOW, a Fairy.

PEAS-BLOSSOX, PHILOSTRATE, Master of the Revels to Theseus. COBWEB,

Fairies. QUINCE, the Carpenter.

Мотн, SNUG, the Joiner.

MUSTARD-SEED, Bortom, the Weaver.

Pyramus, FLUTE, the Bellows-mender.

Thisbe, Sout, the Tinker.

Wall,

Characters in the Interlude STARVELING, the Tailor.

Moonshine,

performed by the Clowns

Lion, HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.

Other Fairies attending their King and Queen HERMIA, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander. Attendants on Theseus and Hyppolyta. Helena, in love with Demetrius.

SCENE, Athens; and a Wood not for from it.

ACT I.

SCENE 1.- Athens. A Room in the Palace of And interchanged love-tokens with my child : Theseus.

Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung, Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and With feigning voice, verses of feigning love ; Attendants.

And stol'n the impression of her fantasy

With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits, The. Now, fair Hyppolyta, our nuptual hour Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweet-meats; messengers Draws on a pace; four happy days bring in Of strong prevailment in unharden d youth: Another moon : but, oh, meihinks, how slow With cunning hast thou filch'd iny daughter's heart; This old moon wanes! she lingers my desires, Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me, Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,

To stubborn harshness :- And, my gracious duke, Long withering out a young man's revenue. Be it so she will not here before your grace Hip. Four days will quickly steep theinselves in Consent to marry with Demetrius, nights ;

I beg the ancient privilege of Athens; Four nights will quickly dream away the time; As she is mine, I may dispose of her: And then the moon, like to a silver bow

Which shall be either to this gentleman,
New bent in heaven, shall behold the night Or to her death; according to our law,
Of our solemnities.

Immediately provided in that case.
The.
Go, Philostrate,

The. What say you, Hermia? be advised, fair Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;

maid: Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth; To you your father should be as a god; Turn melancholy forth to funerals,

One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one The pale companion is not for our pomp.

To whom you are but as a form in wax,

[Exit PuLOSTRATE. By him imprinted, and within his power Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword,

To leave the figure, or disfigure it. And won thy love, doing thee injuries;

Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. But I will wed thee in another key,

Her. So is Lysander. With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. The.

In himself he is: Enter EgEOS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and

But, in this kind, want ng your father's voice,

The other must be held the worthier.
DEMETRIUS.

Her. I would, my father look d but with my eyes. Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! The. Rather your eyes must with his judgment The. Thanks, good Egeus: What's the news

look. with thee?

Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. Ege. Full of vexation come I, with complaint I now not by what power I am made bold; Against my child, my daughter Hermia.

Vor how it may concern my modesty, Stand forth, Dernetriús;- My noble lord,

In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts : This man hath my consent to inarry her :

But I beseech your grace that I may know
Stand forth, Lysander ;-and, my gracious duke, The worst that may befal me in this case,
This hath bewitched the bosom of my child:

If I refuse to wed Deinetrius.
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes, The. Either to die the death, or to abjure

moon,

For ever the society of men.

It stands as an edict in destiny:
Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, Then let us teach our trial patience,
Know of your youth, examine well your blood, Because it is a customary cross;
Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice, As due to love, as thoughts, and dreams, and sighs,
You can endure the livery of a nun;.

Wishes, and tears, poor fancy's followers.
For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,

Lys. A good persuasion; therefore, hear me,
To live a barren sister all your life,

Hermia.
Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. I have a widow aunt, a dowager
Thrice blessed they, that master so their blood, Of great revénue, and she hath no child:
To undergo such maiden pilgriinage :

From Athens is her house remote seven leagues;
But earthlier happy is the rose distillid,

And she respects me as her only son.
Than that, which withering on the virgin thorn, There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee;
Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. And to that place the sharp Athenían law

Her. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Cannot pursue us: If thou lov'st me then,
Ere I will yield my virgin patent up

Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night;
Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke

And in the wood, a league without the town, My soul consents not to give sovereignty.

Where I did meet thee once with Helena, The. Take time to pause; and, by the next new To do observance to a morn of May,

There will I stay for thee. (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me,

Her.

My good Lysander! For everlasting bond of fellowship)

I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow; Upon that day either prepare to die,

By his best arrow with the golden head; For disobedience to your father's will;.

By the simplicity of Venus doves; Or else, to wed Demetrius, as he would;

By that which knitteth souls, and prospers loves; Or on Diana's altar to protest,

And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen, For aye, austerity and single life.

When the false Trojan under sail was seen; Dent.' Relent, sweet Hermia ;-And, Lysander, By all the vows that ever men have broke, yield

In number more than ever woman spoke;-
Thy crazed title to my certain right.

In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius: To-morrow truly will I meet with thee.
Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him.

Lys. Keep promise, love; Look, here comes
Ege. Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love;

Helena.
And what is mine my love shall render him:
And she is mine; and all my right of her

Enter HELENA.
I do estate unto Demetrius.

Her. God speed fair Helena! Whither away

7 Lys. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he,

Hel. Call you me fair ? that fair again unsay.
As well possess'd; my love is more than his; Demetrius loves you fair: O happy fair!
My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd,

Your eyes are lode-stars;s and your tongue's sweet
If not with vantage, as Demetrius';

air
And, which is more than all these boasts can be, More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear,
I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia:

When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.
Why should not I then prosecute my right? Sickness is catching; o, were favort so!
Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,

Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go;
Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,

My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody.
Upon this spotted, and inconstant man.

Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,
The. I must confess, that I have heard so much, The rest I'll give to be to you translated.
And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; o, teach me how you look; and with what art
But, being over-full of self-affairs,

You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.
My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come; Her. I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.
And come, Egeus; you shall go with me;

Hel. O, that your frowns would teach my smiles
I have some private schooling for you both.-

such skill! For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself Her. I give him curses, yet he gives me love. To fit your fancies to your father's will;

Uel. O, that my prayers could such affection Or else the law of Athens yields you up

move! (Which by no means we may extenuate)

Her. The more I hate, the more he follows me. To death, or to a vow of single life.

Hel. The more I love, the more he hateth me. Come, my Hippolyta; What cheer, my love ? Her. His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. Demetrius, and Egeus, go along:

Hel. None, but your beauty;'Would that fault I must employ you in some business

were mine! Against our nuptual; and confer with you

Her. Take comfort; he no more shall see my face,
Of something nearly that concerns yourselves. Lysander and myself will fly this place.-
Ege. With duty and desire, we follow you. Before the time I did Lysander see,

1 Exeunt Thes., Hip., EG E., Dem., and Train. Seem'd Athens as a paradise to me:
Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek O then, what graces in my love do dwell,
so pale?

That he hath turn'd a heaven unto hell! How chance the roses there do fade so fast?

Lys. Helen, to you our minds we will unfold Her. Belike, for want of rain; which I could well To-morrow night when Phæbe doth behold Beteem” them from the tempest of mine eyes. Her silver visage in the watry glass,

Lys. Ah me! for aught that ever I could read, Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass, Could ever hear by tale or history,

(A time that lovers' flights doth still conceal,)
The course of true love never did run smooth: Through Athens' gates have we devis d to steal.
But, either it was different in blood;

Her. And in the wood, where often you and I
Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall’d to low! Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie,
Lys. Or else misgraffed, in respect of years; Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet;
Her. ( spite! too old to be engag'd to young! There my Lysander and myself shall meet :
Lys. Or else it stood upon the choice of friends; And thence, from Athens, turn away our eyes,
Her. O hell! to choose love by another's eye! To seek new friends and stranger companies.
Lys. Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, Farewell, sweet play-fellow; pray thou for us,
War, death, or sickness did say siegě to it;

And gond luck grant thee thy Demetrius!
Making it momentanys as a sound,

Keep word, Lysander: we must starve our sight Swift as a shadow, short as any dream;

From lovers' food, till morrow deep midnight.
Brief as the lightning in the collied night,

Erit HERN.
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, Lys. I will, my Herma-Helena, adieu :
And ere a man bath power to say,- Behold! As you on him, Demetrius dote on you![Exil Lrs.
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:

Hel. How happy some, o'er other some can be!
So quick bright things come to confusion.

Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
1 Wicked.

. Give, bestow.
3 Momontary.
4 Black.

Love's. 6 Pole stars. Countenance.